Lyann Goudie

Partner

Lyann has practiced criminal law for thirty years and has been defending clients accused of crimes since 1997. Her early experience as a prosecutor in both Florida and New York gives her a unique strategic insight in identifying and capitalizing on weaknesses in the prosecution’s cases.

Lyann is a fluent Spanish speaker who has a statewide reputation for her passionate and skillful defense of her clients. She defends those accused of federal and state crimes, including but not limited to:

Federal & state crimes including:

Homicide

Robbery

RICO

Drug trafficking

White-collar (Fraud/Theft) crimes

Violent crimes

Felonies

Lyann is Licensed to Practice in:

Florida

New York

New Jersey

Maryland

Washington D.C.

U.S. District Court, Middle District-Florida

Lyann has also accomplished major successes in personal injury and premises liability cases, such as:

$16.4 million verdict – premises liability/inadequate security – a young woman shot in the head in an apartment complex. The apartment complex was found liable by a jury for compensatory and punitive damages.

$6 million verdict – wrongful death/premises liability/inadequate security – a young man was shot and killed in a parking lot for a local Club.

Lyann has a wide variety of criminal defense and prosecutorial experience.

Prosecutorial Experience: Below are just a few examples of the high level/violent crimes that Lyann prosecuted through trial:

State v. Glen Rogers, First Degree Murder, Death Penalty was sought

State v. Walter Ruiz, First Degree Murder, Death Penalty was sought

State v. Abbas Kalandan, First Degree Murder, Death Penalty was sought

State v. Jonathon Edwards, First Degree Murder, Death Penalty was sought

State v. Johnny Norton, First Degree Murder, Death Penalty was sought

State v, Mark Johnson, First Degree Murder

State v. Anthony Millage, First Degree Murder (not sure of spelling I am trying to locate)

State v. Melvin Scott, First Degree Murder

State v. Jeffrey Hebert, First Degree Murder

State v. Kathleen Weiand – First Degree Murder

State v. Roberto Pagan, Second Degree Murder

State v. Richard Martinez, Second Degree Murder

State v. Michelle Lynn Price – Manslaughter

State v. Troy Whitaker – Manslaughter

Defense Experience: Below are just a few examples of the high level/violent crimes that Lyann defended:

First Degree Murder Cases:

State v. Travis Miller – Looking at mandatory life sentence, State of Florida Nolle Prossed (dismissed) the case

State v. Franklin Smith – State was seeking the Death Penalty – Jury Verdict of Not Guilty

State v. Michael Balkaran – Jury Verdict of Not Guilty

State v. Deandre Williams – Jury Verdict of Not Guilty

State v. Alfredo Duenas – Jury Verdict of Not Guilty

State v. Clayton Maxwell – Looking at a mandatory life sentence received a 5 year prison sentence

State. v. Gary Brown – Looking at a mandatory life sentence received a 5 year prison sentence

State v. Amaury Speing – Looking at a mandatory life sentence, First Degree Murder reduced to Manslaughter and received a 6 year prison sentence

State v. Juan Ramirez – Looking at a mandatory life sentence received a 10 year prison sentence

State v. Brendan Terry – State was seeking the Death Penalty – 30 year prison sentence

Second Degree Murder Case:

State v. Garibaldi was a second degree murder that the state Nolle Prossed.

DUI Manslaughter Cases:

State v. Henry Tippins: 1- Count DUI Manslaughter; 2-Counts- DUI- Bodily Injury: -Count Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Death: He was facing 45 years in Florida State Prison- He received a ten year prison sentence. In the paper May 25, 2013.

State v. Nicole Bailey: 1- Count DUI Manslaughter; One -count leaving the scene of an accident with death. She was facing 20 years in prison. She received supervision.

Drug Trafficking:

United States of America v. Milko Masullo: He was charged with trafficking in marijuana the Judge granted a Rule 29 ( Judgment of Acquittal) at the close of the government’s case.

General Information:

In her first case as a defense attorney, her client was charged with first degree murder, a jury found her client not guilty within 10 minutes of retiring with the case.

In a case in which her client was charged with first degree murder for selling heroin which resulted in the death of the buyer Lyann is able to get the case reduced to Manslaughter and the client sentenced as a Youthful Offender to probation.

Client found not guilty in first degree murder case in which the state was seeking the death penalty. The state presented the following evidence which allegedly implicated the client: Nuclear DNA which concluded that client’s sperm was located on victim’s shirt within 1 in 57.2 trillion people; client’s fingerprints on victims car; mitochondrial DNA which concluded that client’s pubic hair was intertwined with the victim’s and client’s taped statement to law enforcement.

Client charged with first degree murder was found not guilty in gang related shooting death.

Client charged with first degree murder in which the state presented eye witness testimony and a confession receives and accepts a ten year offer after jury hangs 10 to 2 for not guilty.

Lyann convinces judge to throw out the bulk of the incriminating evidence in a notorious case in which client was charged with the first degree murder of her six year old son and the attempted first degree murder of her eight year old son.

Lyann was instrumental in negotiating the cap of three years to an open plea for a young teacher charged with the hit and run death of two children and injuring two other children. The teacher subsequently received a non incarcerative sentence.

Lyann successfully argues for federal Judge to dismiss charges against man accused of operating a Marijuana Grow House after the Government rested its case.

Lyann spear headed a joint defense team, conducted 95% of the depositions, wrote the Motion and argued the hearing which resulted in all charges being dismissed against 23 defendants in the Latin King Racketeering case.

*Each case is different and the above results are not predictors or guarantees of results